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MDSU Attorneys Named 2027 Best Lawyers in America

Matthew D’Emilio, Daniel Hayward, Tara Hersh, William Lunger, Kimberly G. McKinnon, Kathleen Murphy, and Thomas Uebler receive Best Lawyers Awards

Wilmington, DE – August 20, 2027 – McCollom D’Emilio Smith Uebler LLC attorneys Matthew D’Emilio, Daniel Hayward, Tara Hersh, William Lunger, Kimberly Gill McKinnon, Kathleen Murphy, and Thomas Uebler have been recognized by The Best Lawyers in America 2027 Edition for their work as Delaware lawyers.

D’Emilio, Hayward, and Lunger have been honored by Best Lawyers for their work in Trusts and Estates. D’Emilio focuses his practice on estate planning and wealth transfer, estate and trust litigation, estate and trust administration, business transactions, and tax law. Hayward specializes in complex trust issues and fiduciary litigation. Lunger practices primarily in the areas of estate planning, estate and trust administration, asset protection planning, charitable planning and family business planning.

McKinnon was awarded Lawyer of the Year by Best Lawyers for her work in Trust and Estates. Her practice is focused on trusts, taxation, estate planning, charitable giving, and non-profit formation and governance.

Uebler was recognized as Lawyer of the Year by Best Lawyers for his work in Trusts and Estates Litigation. This is his third time receiving the Lawyer of the Year award with previous honors in 2022 and 2025. He focuses his practice on fiduciary and corporate litigation in the Delaware Court of Chancery and other Delaware courts, as well as statutory and fiduciary duties under Delaware law.

Hersh and Murphy have been named in the Best Lawyers – Ones to Watch in America 2027. Hersh was honored for her work in Trusts and Estates. Her practice centers on estate and tax planning, estate and trust administration, probate avoidance, and asset alignment in Delaware and Pennsylvania. Murphy was recognized for Commercial Litigation, Corporate Governance and Compliance Law, and Litigation – Securities. Her practice is focused on corporate and fiduciary litigation, counseling both individuals and corporate trustees in all corporate, business and trust litigation matters.

Best Lawyers, the oldest peer-review publication in the legal profession, compiles its annual list of distinguished lawyers by conducting national surveys in which thousands of lawyers provide substantive evaluations of their peers.

About McCollom D’Emilio Smith Uebler

McCollom D’Emilio Smith Uebler is a Wilmington-based law firm specializing in trusts, estates, and tax; business transactions; and litigation. With a commitment to responsiveness, strategic thinking, and efficiency, the firm represents both corporate and individual clients in transactional and litigation matters.

MDSU Partner Published in US Trust Law Guide

WILMINGTON, DE (February 1, 2026). McCollom D’Emilio Smith Uebler LLC is pleased to announce that Kimberly G. McKinnon is a contributing author in Trust Laws in the United States, a state-by state resource for US trust law, published by UK-based publisher Globe Law and Business Ltd.

Kimberly, who joined MDSU’s trusts and estates practice as a partner in February 2025, authored the chapter covering the state of Delaware, a key jurisdiction for US trust law.

Kimberly contributed her expertise to the publication with over 20 years of experience advising high-net worth clients in complex federal tax and Delaware trust transactions. Specializing in trust and estate guidance for charitable and purpose driven legacy planning, Kimberly is also a trusted adviser to many non-profit and tax-exempt organizations.

Learn more about the book here.

MDSU Promotes Three New Partners

Wilmington, DE – September 25, 2025 – McCollom D’Emilio Smith Uebler LLC (MDSU) announced the promotion of three new partners, Kathleen Murphy, Jeremy Riley, and Adam Waskie, effective October 1, 2025.

Ms. Murphy’s practice centers on corporate and fiduciary litigation in Delaware and Pennsylvania. She counsels both individual and corporate trustees in all corporate, business and trust litigation matters. After joining MDSU’s litigation group in 2021, Ms. Murphy was promoted to counsel in 2023.

Mr. Riley primarily practices in the areas of trust and estate planning and administration; business and tax planning and transactions. He also has extensive experience in corporate litigation. Mr. Riley joined MDSU in 2018 and was promoted to counsel in 2023.

Mr. Waskie joined the MDSU litigation group in 2022 as an associate. His practice is focused on corporate, fiduciary, and complex commercial litigation in the Delaware Court of Chancery and the Delaware Superior Court’s Complex Commercial Litigation Division.

“Kathleen, Jeremy and Adam are an integral part of our firm, and their promotion to partner reflects their exceptional work for our clients and the growth of our litigation and trust and estate groups.” said MDSU founding partner Thomas Uebler.

“As we continue to grow and expand our firm, we’re focused on elevating leaders who not only demonstrate outstanding technical skills but who also embody our collaborative, forward-thinking approach to the practice,” remarked MDSU managing partner Matthew D’Emilio.

McCollom D’Emilio Smith Uebler Honored by Chambers High Net Worth Guide

Wilmington, DE (July 24, 2025) – In its 2025 guide, Chambers High Net Worth ranked McCollom D’Emilio Smith Uebler LLC (MDSU) in the Band 2 category for Private Wealth Law and Private Wealth Law Disputes in Delaware. Named in the guide since 2022 for Private Wealth Law, this is the first year MDSU was ranked for Private Wealth Law Disputes. “McCollom D’Emilio Smith Uebler are consistently really improving and increasing the quality of their practice.” says a source. “McCollom D’Emilio Smith Uebler has a big group with some knowledgeable practitioners.” added another.

MDSU members Matthew D’Emilio, Daniel Hayward, William Lunger, Kimberly Gill McKinnon, and Jennifer Smith were also recognized in the Chambers High Net Worth 2025 rankings for Private Wealth Law in Delaware. MDSU member Thomas Uebler was recognized by the guide for Private Wealth Law Disputes in Delaware.

D’Emilio, a tenth year Chambers honoree, was recognized in the Band 2 category. According to Chambers, “Matthew D’Emilio has deep experience handling wealth transfer and asset protection strategies for high net worth individuals. D’Emilio also handles significant trusts and estates litigation mandates.” A source noted, “Matthew is very good in mediation, in addition to his trust and estate skills.”

Hayward, who joined MDSU as a member in February of 2025, was ranked in the Band 2 category. “Daniel Hayward primarily advises clients on sophisticated trust matters, including acting in fiduciary litigation matters. He regularly advises Delaware trust companies, as well as individual high net worth clients,” his Chambers review noted. “Daniel is a good attorney, who is strong and works in the national trusts space. He does some international planning as well” a Chambers review source commented.

Lunger, ranked for the ninth year by Chambers, was recognized in the Band 2 category. Stated in his Chambers review, “Will Lunger handles trust and estates administration, estate planning and family business planning matters. He recently joined McCollom D’Emilio Smith Uebler LLC from Martin & Lunger.” According to one Chambers source, “Will Lunger is a strong attorney.” Noted by another, “Will is a very thoughtful practitioner.”

McKinnon, who joined MDSU as a member in February of 2025, was ranked in the Band 2 category in her tenth year as a Chambers honoree. “Kimberly Gill McKinnon primarily advises individuals on complex trust and tax matters. She also acts on behalf of companies, charities and family foundations,” stated her Chambers review. “Kimberly’s technical knowledge to dig into a really big complex thing and understand the details, and unpack complicated tax issues, is incredibly strong” said a Chambers source.

Smith was recognized in the Band 2 category in her eighth year as a Chambers honoree. As noted in her Chambers review, “Jennifer Smith excels in advising high net worth clients on trust and estate planning and administration. Smith advises beneficiaries and trustees on trust modification matters, migrating trusts to Delaware and termination of trusts.” Added a source, “Jennifer is great.”

Uebler, ranked in the Band 2 category, was honored by Chambers for the first time for his work in Private Wealth Law Disputes in Delaware. “Thomas Uebler is an experienced fiduciary litigator who often represents clients involved in trust disputes,” according to Chambers. “Thomas is a smart and thoughtful attorney whose positions will be reasonable,” stated a Chambers source. “Thomas is a really great litigator,” commented another.

Chambers and Partners is an independent research company operating across 200 jurisdictions delivering detailed rankings and insight into the world’s leading lawyers and law firms.

MDSU Trusts And Estates Practice Welcomes Two New Partners

Wilmington, DE – February 8, 2025 – McCollom D’Emilio Smith Uebler LLC (MDSU) announced the addition of two new partners, Daniel F. Hayward and Kimberly Gill McKinnon, effective February 8, 2025.

A former director at Gordon, Fournaris & Mammarella P.A., Mr. Hayward joins the MDSU trusts and estates practice with 19 years of experience navigating the unique and complex aspects of Delaware trust laws. Offering expertise to individual and corporate clients both in the United States and internationally, Daniel drafts and modifies Delaware trusts, advises on the transfer of trusts from other jurisdictions to the State of Delaware, and represents Delaware corporate Trustees in transactional and litigation matters.

Of his new partnership, Daniel said “I am eager to work alongside likeminded attorneys that share a fresh, cutting-edge approach to Delaware trusts and estates law.”

Ms. McKinnon, also a former director at Gordon, Fournaris & Mammarella P.A., joins MDSU with a well-established Delaware trusts and estates practice with over 20 years of experience advising high-net worth clients in complex federal tax and Delaware trust transactions. Kimberly also specializes in trust and estate guidance for charitable and purpose driven legacy planning and is a trusted adviser to many non-profit and tax-exempt organizations.

“MDSU is well regarded as a Delaware trusts and estates firm.” remarked Kimberly. “I am pleased to become part of this thriving practice group.”

“Through careful and strategic growth since our firm began 7 years ago, the addition of Kim and Daniel has solidified our place as a top-tier trusts and estates practice.” said Matthew D’Emilio, managing partner at MDSU. “With the shared value of a client-first approach, our new partners are bringing even more energy and vibrancy to the firm.”

McCollom D’Emilio Smith Uebler Ranked 2025 Best Law Firm

WILMINGTON, DE (November 8, 2024 ) – McCollom D’Emilio Smith Uebler LLC (MDSU) has been ranked in the Best Lawyers® “Best Law Firms” 2025 edition. MDSU’s Litigation – Trusts & Estates practice received a Tier 1 ranking, while the Trusts & Estates Law practice was ranked Tier 2. MDSU received this honor among an elite group of over 2,000 national firms this year. Of those, MDSU is one of only 600 firms to receive at least one Tier 1 national ranking.

McCollom D’Emilio Smith Uebler LLC is a nationally recognized Delaware-based law firm focusing on trusts, estates, and tax; business transactions; and litigation. MDSU represents corporate and individual clients in a range of transactional and litigation matters.

Best Lawyers® is the oldest and most respected peer-review publication company in the legal profession. Best Lawyers lists of outstanding lawyers are compiled by conducting exhaustive peer review surveys in which tens of thousands of leading lawyers confidentially evaluate their professional peers. Lawyers are not permitted to pay any fee to participate in or be recognized by Best Lawyers.

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